Secret Technique - Surprise Update! *poof*
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Tonpa began introducing the other veteran examinees.
Manfred stays silent as Tonpa introduces the examinee's numbers 255 Todo, 106 Bourbon, 191 Bodoro, 197 Amori, 198 Imori, 199 Umori, and lastly number 384 Geretta.
Manfred narrowed his eyes, he could tell that each of them are strong. An expert in each of their field. But even then, so what?
No matter how strong they are, none of them is stronger than him...
'Of course, other than the three dudes I saw earlier' He twitches his nose at the thought of the people who may be as strong as the Hunter who once chases him.
His hands unconsciously touch his jacket's pocket 'In case of emergency, I still got my toys with me.'
He pat his jacket a few times, and turn his head back to Tonpa had just finished his explanation on all of the veteran examinees.
"...There are many more, but they have taken the test the most times," Tonpa said.
"Eh..." Gon was amazed at the man's knowledge of the other examinees.
"Ne, Tonpa-san. Do you-" He opens his mouth to ask the man another question, but before the words could come out of his mouth, a wail of pain echoes through the underground tunnel, attracting all of the examinees.
"M-m-my... My arms!! MY ARMS!!!"
Manfred and the others turn their heads toward the scream, to see a man on his knees sobbing as his arms turn into blood-red flower petals, which makes the four of them stare at him in shock at the supernatural sight.
"Oh, how peculiar... His arms seem to have become flower petals. No smoke and mirrors here♦️" The clown, that Manfred had told the others to be wary about, said with an amused smile while looking at the sobbing guy.
"Do take care when you walk. It is very rude to not apologize when you bump into someone ♥️" The Clown said, before walking away. The other examinees immediately move out of the way, in fear of having the same fate as the unfortunate soul.
"This is dangerous. That psychopath is back again."
"Again?" Gon asks Tonpa, who seems very scared at the sight of the clown.
"Does that mean he took last year's exam?" Kurapika asked.
"Number 44. Hisoka, the Magician. Last year, he was a virtual lock to pass the test, until he killed an examiner he didn't like." Tonpa explains with a solemn gaze.
"A-And they're still allowing him to retake the exam this year?" Leorio asked nervously.
"Of course. Every year, the examiners and test content change, and the examiners are the ones who choose the new content. The devil himself could pass if that were the examiners' determination. That's just how the Hunter Exam works." Tonpa said looking at the rookies seriously. "Anyway, no one likes him. You should stay away, too."
'He looks dangerous. That much is for sure.' Leorio looks at the back of the red-haired clown.
'...He once killed an examiner? Isn't an examiner supposed to be a Hunter? Is he stronger than the Hunter who hunts me down?' Manfred gulped his saliva at the revelation of the clow- No, the magician, Hisoka's feat.
Manfred's heart beats faster at the thought that soon he will have to face such a fearsome man. 'Damn it, and to think there are two others with the same presence in this exam.' He frowned at the thought as his chance of passing the exam are getting pretty grim.
'No.' His eyes sharpened 'No matter what, I will have to pass this exam.' He clenched his fists, determined to not let anyone block his way on gaining the Hunter License.
He takes a deep breath to calm himself, before putting his attention back to Tonpa, the man who had been giving them some helpful information since the beginning. But even then, Manfred still didn't trust him, since he could see the hints of malice hidden behind those eyes.
"There are plenty of others that are dangerous too. But I would let you know ahead of time, so don't worry." Tonpa said to the group.
"Okay!" Gon responded cheerfully to the man who offers his help to them.
Other examinees who heard what Tonpa said, laugh in their minds, at the irony of the most ruthless person in the exam, offering his "help" to other people.
'kukuku, look who's talking.'
'He's the worst of the bunch here. Rookie Crusher, Tonpa.'
"Oh, that's right!" Tonpa reaches into his satchel, pulling out four cans of juice and offering them to the four rookies. "A little something to mark our acquaintance. How about it?"
"Oh, much appreciated. As it happened, I was thirsty..." Leorio takes the juice from Tonpa.
Gon and Kurapika offered their gratitude as they also take one from Tonpa, meanwhile Manfred only stare at the last remaining can in Tonpa's hand quietly.
"What's wrong, Manfred? It's pretty rude to just ignore someone's kind offer." Leorio said to Manfred who only glanced at them, before turning his gaze back at the man who had been acting quite friendly to them since the beginning.
He reaches out his hand to take the can from the man's hand, while still keeping his gaze on the man. Once he has taken the can, he could see a light of cunningness flash in the man's eyes, further confirming his suspicion.
"Wait, guys," Manfred holds out his hand, stopping the others from drinking the juice.
"Huh, is there something wrong, Manfred?" Kurapika furrowed his brows, looking at the boy who had been silently staring at Tonpa.
"Let me try it first. If it's safe, then you can all drink it" Without waiting for their answer, Manfred opens his can, and took a small sip. He clicks his tongue a few times before spitting it out to the ground.
"Yup, there's something wrong with the juice."
"Really?" Gon opened his can and take a sip, before also spitting it out. "Tonpa-san, This juice must be old! It tastes weird!!"
"W-what?! really? That's strange~~~"
'Im-Impossible! That drug barely has any smell or taste in it! These two kids have an amazing sense of taste!' Tonpa looks at the group of rookies in front of him with a nervous smile. He notices the blonde kid called Kurapika and the man named Leorio have already opened their drink and poured it onto the ground while staring at him.
"Ah... Er..." He muttered nervously at the stare of the four rookies in front of him 'Damn it, I need to salvage this situation quickly! The spiky-haired brat seems the most gullible out of the four. I can start with him!'
"I'm sorry! I didn't know that it was already expired!!" He clasped his hands and got to his knees, apologizing to the four in front of him, but mainly to the kid named Gon.
"It's okay, you don't need to apologize. It's a good thing Manfred was being cautious, or else we all will be in trouble with this exam. I've eaten a lot of different plants so even if it tastes a little weird, I can tell right away."
"Whew~ That's a relief" Tonpa rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, feeling a little pissed at his plans being foiled. 'Shit... I thought he was just a dumb kid, turns out he's quite a wild one.'
"By the way, Manfred. How did you know there was something weird in the drink?" Gon turns to Manfred
"Experience."
Gon look curiously at Manfred "What do you mean?"
"Well, my teacher occasionally put some nasty stuff in the drinks in the house, to teach me to be careful with what I put in my mouth... Hmm, I worded that wrong." Manfred froze at what he had just said, which make both Leorio and Kurapika choke.
"What's wrong? Is there something funny?" Gon looks at the red faces of Leorio and Kurapika who are trying to hold their laugh.
"Pfft-, it's nothing, Gon. Don't worry about it." Leorio said, through his hitched breath.
"Liar." Gon said with a pout, clearly knowing that they are hiding something.
"So, you used to put some random stuff in your mouth- Ow! Hey!" Leorio said wriggling his brows before his head was knocked hard by Kurapika. "What was that for?!" He looks at Kurapika disgruntled, wondering why he was hit, before realizing that he was talking about an inappropriate topic with a twelve-year-old.
"Oh, uh, sorry..." Leorio rubbed the place he was hit awkwardly.
Manfred's veins popped, glaring at Leorio in embarrassment before looking away. "Cough, anyway! It was mostly sleeping pills, so it's nothing dangerous." He said with a calm tone, trying to hide his embarrassment. Which would've succeeded if it weren't for his red face that goes from his neck to his ears, completely blowing his chance of hiding it.
The others laughed, seeing Manfred's red tomato face.
While the group of rookies was distracted by their conversation, Tonpa took this chance to slip away from them.
'What's with all of the newcomers this year? They're all a bunch with veteran-like qualities. First, it was that baldy, the fat kid, the needle freak, and the white-haired brat. Especially the needle freak and number 9...' He shivered as he recalls the chills and pressure he gets from trying to get close to the two men.
He has already crossed the bearded man and the needle guy from his list just like Hisoka. He could tell from experience that people like them are not one to be messed with.
'Heh, but at least I managed to get one rookie to drink the Juice.' He turns his head toward a white-haired kid with badge number 99 pinned to their chest. 'He looks as young as number 405 and number 406. Oh well, Little kids need to learn how cruel the world can be. Your stomach should slowly start to feel uncomfortable soon.' Tonpa unconsciously gives out a malicious smile, looking at the back of the white-haired kid.
Meanwhile, the kid in question is currently standing around, surveying his surrounding with a passive face. Seemingly bored from the waiting.
'Is this the famous Hunter Exam people have been talking about? It's disappointing.' Killua let out a sigh 'Tch, If I had known it will be this boring then I should've just stayed at home...' Killua was about to shake his head when he felt a gaze being directed at him.
'Hmm? Somebody is starting at me.'
He ever so slightly turns his head toward the source of the gaze, noticing the guy who had given him poisoned juice earlier, in his peripheral vision, looking at him with an annoying smug grin on the ugly fat face.
'Ufufufu, well, I find someone I can mess with' Killua gives out a mischievous cat-like grin.
He turns his head around, pretending to have only just noticed Tonpa staring at him
"Tonpa-saaan!" He waved at the man. "Do you have any more of that juice?"
"Huh? Ah... Sure." Tonpa was bewildered at the boy's request. He doesn't know what the boy wants to do, but he still reaches into his satchel anyway and gives the boy the last few juices he had on him.
"I must be quite nervous. I'm dying of thirst." Killua smiled at the confused man, before opening up all of the cans in his hands and then gulping all of them down, at the same time.
"Puha~ So good!!"
Tonpa watches in shock as the boy drank all of the cans without a care in the world. 'That's strange. The one he drank before should already have taken effect... Forget about diarrhea, five cans should be enough to kill him from dehydration!'
"Worried?"
"Huh?" The question from the boy took Tonpa by surprise. He look back at the boy, to see the boy's eyes had become sharp, and looking at him with confidence
"No need to worry about me. I've been thoroughly trained." Killua turns and walks away, leaving Tonpa his final words "Poisons could not kill me."
'...Poison? So he has no idea what kind of drug I used... But knew he was going to be okay and drank it?' Tonpa watches the boy's back, completely bewildered by the boy's action.
'This year's rookies are quite a bunch...' He feels a giddy sensation coming from his chest as a small grin appears on his face. He clenches his hands a few times, looking at the back of the head of the white-haired rookie intently. '...and that'll make it even more worthwhile... To crush them.'
"JIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRI!!!!" A loud screech echoes through the dark tunnels, attracting the attention of all examinees, including Manfred's group.
Everyone turns their head towards the sound, seeing a tall thin man, wearing a purple tuxedo and pink hair standing on top of a pipe, with a man-sized passage behind him.
The man, seeing that he had attracted all the examinees to him, turn off the annoying screeches of the siren in his hand.
"Now, this concludes the entry period. We will now commence the first phase of the Exam." He jumped down from the pipe and walked to the forefront of the large group.
"Please, this way" He gestured toward the dark tunnel and began to walk. "I will confirm one more time. The Hunter Exam is extremely difficult, so whether it is because of unfortunate luck or a lack of skills, you can get hurt or even die. And there have been numerous instances where examinees have been incapacitated by other examinees. But if this does not matter to you... Then please follow me."
The examinees immediately start following him without any hesitation. "Understood. All 405 applicants will participate in the first Hunter Exam."
"As expected, not a single one chickening out. I was kinda hoping for a few." Leorio looks around at the other examinees.
"...That's weird." Gon said suddenly, making Leorio looks at the bit in confusion.
The examinees watch in bewilderment, as the man instantly picks up his pace, walking in a weird gait. The examinees not wanting to get left behind also followed and quickened their pace, turning it into a light jog.
"Hey, what the heck? Is it just me or is everyone picking up their pace?" Leorio looks around confused.
"The pace has quickened all of the sudden!" Kurapika said.
"The people up front are even running!" Gon said.
"Right, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Satotz, and I am the examiner for the first exam. I will now escort you to the second exam site." The man, now known as Satotz said, which make all of the examinees confused.
Someone yells out amongst the crowd "Second Exam?" Manfred looks around but fails to notice who yelled in the first place. "What about First Exam?" The person yells out, allowing Manfred to finally able to spot him. It was a bald guy, wearing a red scarf and dark shirt, with a dark round pauldron on his shoulders
Satotz turns around while still keeping the same pace of speed "To follow me to the second exam site... is the first exam."
"Follow you? That's it?" the baldy asked again.
"Yes. I cannot tell you where or when you must arrive. You need to follow me."
'If I wasn't mistaken, it was examinee number 294. One of the stronger fighters in this place. From his clothing, he looks like one of those ninjas from Jappon. Weird... Why is one of those bunch here? I thought they have some strict rules.' Manfred looks away instantly when he notices the badly was about to turn around.
'Weird... I could've sworn there was someone watching me.' Hanzo thought, discreetly sweeping his gaze to everyone behind him, but finding nothing.
'Whoops, That was close. Not only was he strong, but he also has sharp intuition. Seems like it'll be tough to ambush him.' Manfred's sweat dropped after almost getting caught.
"...Alright then! I'll follow wherever you go." The loud voice of Leorio brings Manfred out of his thought.
"Um... Sorry, what were you guys talking about again?" Manfred asked.
"Ah? Oh, it's nothing." Kurapika shakes his head.
"Oh, ok." Manfred put his gaze back to the front to focus on the course.
...
Hours have passed since the start of the marathon. And many of the examinees had already dropped out from the exam.
"Hop." Manfred jumps over an examinee who is laying on the ground, breathing heavily from exhaustion.
'Hmm, how long have I been running for again?' Manfred rolls over his sleeve to check his hand watch, only to realize that he forgot to bring one.
He had accidentally left it at home due to him being too excited to go to the hunter exam. He turned his head to Leorio who he recalls has a watch on his wrists, but once he looks at the man, he notices Leorio is already sweating bullets, clearly exhausted from hours of running.
Leorio, noticing the somewhat concerned look Manfred is giving him, spoke through gritted teeth "Don't worry! *huff* I won't go down so easily! *huff*" He spoke with a grin.
'Ugh, I underestimated the Hunter Exam. Everyone here is a monster. It's a gathering of monsters...' He looks at Manfred, Gon, and Kurapika who seemed unfazed by the course. 'Damn it, how can they have so much stamina?! Am I qualified for this exam?'
He grits his teeth at the thought of competing with his monstrous friends.
He was deep in thought when he felt something passing him. 'What the?!-' He looks ahead, seeing a white-haired kid on a skateboard casually strolling.
"Hey! Wait up, Kid!"
"Hmm?" Killua turns toward the loud and obnoxious shout, staring at a middle-aged man who is glaring at him.
"You should show the Hunter Exam some respect!"
"What do you mean?" Killua asked, wondering why the man is so angry at him.
"Why are you using a skateboard?! That's cheating!" The man yells at him while pointing at his skateboard.
"Why?" Killua questioned flatly. Leorio starts to sweat, blowing up in anger soon after "HUH?! Why... This is an endurance test!"
"No, it isn't." A young voice speaks out, catching the attention of Killua.
Killua turns his head, noticing there are two kids, running behind the man. One with dark green spiky hair in an all-green outfit, and the other one has dark hair and hawk-like eyes, wearing goggles and a maroon red jacket.
"HUH? Gon, what are you saying?" The man yelled in annoyance to the spiky-haired boy.
"The examiner only told us to follow him." The boy called Gon said, with the hawk-eye boy adding in after "Yeah, It's all fair game, Leorio. Calm down."
"Whose side are you two on, eh?"
Killua slowed down, passing the loud man to get close to the two boys. "Hey, how old are you guys?"
The boy Gon looks confused at him. "I'm twelve years old."
"Hmm..." He turns to the other one "What about you?"
The Hawk-eyed boy watches him silently for a few seconds before giving him a slight smile. "Twelve."
'We're the same age.' Killua twitches his nose, before kicking his skateboard up. "Guess I'll run too."
"Wow! That was cool!" The spiky-haired boy exclaimed in amazement.
"That was a nice trick!" The other one said calmly, but he could see there is a hint of awe in his eyes.
Killua focused on the two boys. "I'm Killua."
"I'm Gon." Gon replied with a smile
"I'm Manfred." The boy, named Manfred offered his hand for a handshake, to which Killua politely accepted.
Once their hands touched, they both keep a neutral face while thinking at the same time 'Hmm, he's the same as me.'.
"You have a strong grip." Killua complimented Manfred. Although the boy was wearing gloves, Killua could feel that the boy's fingers are course with a hint of scars, hidden right beneath the gloves.
"Thanks," Manfred said with a smile, but he too could feel the terrifying strength, hidden beneath the pale and smooth skin of Killua. 'Wow, that is some crazy strength he's hiding.'
Manfred looks to the front, but his attention is still on Killua. He starts sweating on the inside when he notices there's almost no sound of footsteps coming from the boy. Even when the boy is running right alongside him, he still couldn't hear anything. It's as if the boy was nothing but an illusion...
'...An assassin?' Manfred thought with a frown but shook his head right after since it is not in his right to pry into someone else's past, since he is also not clean. 'Who am I to judge, when my own hands are bathed in the blood of the innocents.'
He shakes his head to get rid of his thought and takes a deep breath.
"What's wrong, Manfred?" Gon asked in worry as he notice his friend seems to be distracted by something.
"Huh? It's nothing. I was just thinking how Killua's skin could be so smooth..." Manfred replied, looking at Killua with envy.
"Heh, it's called taking care of my body. Something I notice you don't seem to do." Killua said mockingly at Manfred. He notices that the hawk-eyed boy seems to cover every part of his body as if he's trying to hide something. And going by the small hints of scars on the exposed part of his gloves, he can conclude that the boy is hiding his injuries.
Manfred's eyebrow twitched, feeling pretty ticked off at the jab, but he chooses to stay silent and continue to focus on the marathon.
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